Christian Taylor hits 18.11 meters in Triple Jump! photo by PhotoRun.net
Tori Bowie blasts 21.77, WL, MR and PB for Tori! photo by PhotoRun.net
The Nike PreClassic was as close to most of the 12,000 plus paid fans get to a meet in Europe. This notion of a European type meet was what Steve Prefontaine organized in 1975 with several meets in Oregon. Tom Jordan, the meet director for the Nike Pre Classic, has, along with the Nike sports marketing team, had that concept in mind when they assembled the Pre Classic.
This year was no different. The rivalries were top notch, with William Claye versus Christian Taylor in the LJ. On the women’s side, there were many clashes, but the women’s 200 meters, with Dafne Schippers, Elaine Thompson, Tori Bowie, Allyson Felix and Shaunae Miller-Uibo was the closer. Tori Bowie flew away from the field, with 21.77, Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 21.91 and Elaine Thompson, at 21.99m.
A fantastic event, one of the best in my three decades of attending, the Nike Pre Classic was two fine days of world class track and field.
Taylor 18.11, Bowie 21.77
EUGENE (USA, May 27): The 43rd edition of Prefontaine Classic (IAAF Diamond League) was headlined before a full crowd at Hayward Field by third best ever men triple jump, sensational stadium and DL record in women 200 m with surprise winner, first 16 years old runner achieving sub 4 mile and much more. In summary on Saturday 7 World leads (plus 3 on Friday), 4 meet records (plus 1 on Friday), also 3 stadium record (1 on Friday).
Event by event
Men
100 m – Six sprinters broke the 10-second barrier but the wind was just above the legal limit at 2.4 m/s. Ronnie Baker won in 9.86 from China’s Su Bingtian (9.92) and GB’s Chijindu Ujah (9.95) ahead of Andre de Grasse (9.96) and Justin Gatlin (9.97).
400m – LaShawn Merritt was the only athlete to break 45 seconds with 44.79 and achieved 5th win at Prefontaine. Olympic finalist Karabo Sibanda pulled up with injury in the first 100m.
International Mile (non DL) – Win for Brazil’s Thiago Andre in 3:51.99 big PB (for some minutes also WL) as 16-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke the four-minute barrier with 3:58.07, the best ever for that age category.
Bowerman Mile – After winning over 3000m in Doha, Ronald Kwemoi picked up another high profile win in the mile in 3:49.04 World leading a Kenyan sweep from Elijah Manangoi (3:49.08) and Timothy Cheruiyot (3:49.64). Asbel Kiprop was 13th in 3:58.24.
5000m – In his last track race on US soil, Mo Farah outsprinted the opposition once again in 13:00.70 WL ahead of world indoor champion Yomif Kejelcha (13:01.21) and world cross country champion Geoffrey Kamworor (13:01.35).
110m hurdles (non DL) – Olympic champion Omar McLeod clocked 13.01 WL (+0.9) with his Jamaican teammate Ronald Levy improving his PB from 13.31 to 13.10 to take second ahead of Devon Allen (13.11) and Aries Merritt (13.13, his fastest after 2015 transplantation).
Pole vault – Repeat of Shanghai with Sam Kendricks clearing 5.86m on his first attempt to defeat Renaud Lavillenie (5.81m). Armand Duplantis cleared 5.71m to finish fourth on his Diamond League debut.
Triple jump – Third longest wind-legal jump of all-time from Christian Taylor with 18.11m (+0.8, also WL and MR) behind his 18.21m from the 2015 World Championships and Jonathan Edwards’ world record of 18.29m. Will Claye also surpassed the 18m-line in the fifth round with 18.05m but his jump was marginally wind-aided at +2.4, but he achieved legal PB 17.82 (+1.7).
Shot put – Ryan Crouser produced the three best throws of the competition: 21.89, 21.88, 22.43, also meet and stadium record. Tom Walsh second with 21.71m ahead of WL holder Kovacs 21.44.
Women
100m (non DL) – Morolake Akinosun posted a marginally wind-aided 10.94 (2.1 m/s) ahead of Murielle Ahoure (10.96) and Michelle-Lee Ahye (10.97). Three A´s dominated.
200m – Tori Bowie smashed the Diamond League record with 21.77 (+1.5, also WL and MR with PB) ahead of Shaunae Miller-Uibo (21.91) with Elaine Thompson (21.98), Dafne Schippers (22.30) and Allyson Felix (22.33). First time outside a major champs three women have gone sub-22 in the same race.
800m – Caster Semenya was pushed hard by Margaret Wambui but held on to win in 1:57.78 to 1:57.88. Francine Niyonsaba was third in 1:59.10 ahead of Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu (1:59.19).
1500m (non DL) – Faith Kipyegon produced a sub-60 last lap to break the four minute barrier with 3:59.67 ahead of Hellen Obiri (4:00.46) and Laura Muir (4:00.47 EL).
100m hurdles – Jasmin Stowers claimed victory in 12.59 (+0.8) from Queen Harrison (12.64) with Dawn Harper-Nelson just edging out fast starting Christina Manning (12.653 to 12.659) for third.
400m hurdles – Great race to start the programme with Ashley Spencer clocking a world-lead of 53.38 also PB ahead of Shamier Little (53.44 PB) in lane one. Zuzana Hejnova opened her season in fourth in 54.50 EL.
High jump – Mariya Lasitskene cleared a world-leading height of 2.03m on her return to international competition, improving Anna Chicherova’s meet record by one centimetre. European and Olympic champion Ruth Beitia was fourth with 1.92m.
Alfonz Juck is a husband, father, statistician, announcer, journalist, organizer, agent usw, following track and field since 1972. EME NEWS is a news service relating to the sport of athletics. It is published on daily basis with additional updates, as required. Copyright is held by Alfons Juck, TOP ATHLETICS, a.s., Krikova 10, 82107 Bratislava, Slovakia. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The redistribution and/or direct reproduction of material from EME NEWS is prohibited unless permission is given by c TOP ATHLETICS (such as being included in a subscription agreement).
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